A President for change?

When I met with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia yesterday, he urged me to consider that Greenpeace and the Indonesian government are “in the same boat” and that “we share the same dream.” Words like this are certainly good to hear, as indeed was the fact that after many years he invited us for an open discussion.

An expression of common cause is always welcome, but as ever, we hope they bear fruit in action, and – critically - withstand the test of time. We hope that the meeting will lead to real support for our call for zero deforestation in the country by 2015. That it will be measured in protection of the country’s pristine rainforests and the more than 10% of global plant and animal species residing within Indonesia. That it will help the world avert catastrophic climate change.

It’s not easy to get a meeting with a President. It is part of our regular work in Indonesia, as in many parts of the world, to consult with government officials and ministers, but it is a testament to the work of our teams, and the power of our supporters that the President takes time to hear our arguments and demands. Through meeting us, he tells you, our supporters, that he is listening.

In Indonesia particularly, our forest campaign has worked hard with palm oil plantation company, Golden Agri Resources (GAR), helping them shape and formulate a viable forest conservation policy. Our dialogue became an intensive and fruitful partnership, covering the protection they could affect to Indonesia’s peatlands, and how GAR could manage and work with high carbon and conservation areas.

To be clear, we told the President that Greenpeace is not ‘anti development’. I expressed our support for Indonesia’s plans to reduce greenhouse emissions, and I also supported the country’s economic growth plans. Ecological and economic welfare are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are codependent.

President SBY was particularly interested in our focus on solutions and I referenced our Energy Revolution report which was launched earlier this week. It is a comprehensive document outlining, in very real and tangible terms, a pathway from fossil-fuel addiction to energy sources that are renewable, sustainable, and waiting for us to harness them.

Finally our meeting was also a forum in which I expressed my grave concerns for the shrinking democratic space for organisations like ours in Indonesia, where our office and staff have been subject to serious and escalating attacks. These attacks included mob visits to our office and the deportation of campaigners John Sauven and Andy Tait from the country last year - despite their having the proper visas. “This should not happen,” declared President SBY, and indeed it should not - we hope it will not happen again.

Those who seek a ban on Greenpeace staff would be well advised to look at the President’s official website where he expresses much appreciation for our dedicated, and “internationally credible” efforts.

On a lighter note, President SBY was much enthused by our forthcoming Rainbow Warrior ship tour to Indonesia next year. Perhaps, at that time, we will literally be ‘in’ the same boat’, as he also seemed very excited by the prospect of visiting when we dock in Jakarta.

Yesterday was a spirited day - hopefully one that will linger, too, in the minds and hearts of Indonesians as they consider their impact – and that of their elected governmental representatives - on the world we live in.

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(Unregistered) Abigor
says:

GREEN Saviour: Look up the reasons behind Obama's winning the Nobel Peace Prize and really concentrate and read hard. You'll see that if you &...

GREEN Saviour: Look up the reasons behind Obama's winning the Nobel Peace Prize and really concentrate and read hard. You'll see that if you 'cut the crap' then there are no real reasons behind it and that it is empty. Then square it with reality.
No real reason.
Obama won it for nothing.
Check. You'll see.

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(Unregistered) GREEN Savior
says:

yes...Obama won it for nothing. And any President who is willing to meet Dr. Naidoo is being called a President of change.

Get familiar w...

yes...Obama won it for nothing. And any President who is willing to meet Dr. Naidoo is being called a President of change.

Get familiar with political reality! Obama stood up in front of some scary enemies.

... and even the president of the United states can not change the world via night, especially not when there is an army of Republicans, Lobbyists, Tea party, Superpacs... and Greenpeace torpedoing any move by the Nobel Prize Winner.

According to Doctor Naidoo we are in danger of loosing the planet. Fortunately now the pope and Romney will fix it!